Calf Prices 2015 *** DISCUSSION THREAD

CloughCasey1

marathon wrote: »

how much should i get roughly for 2 belgian bluex fr yearling heifers 355 kgs gin mart at weekend

How dis you get on with them?

jfh

Going to look at Blue heifer calves the weekend. About 2 weeks old, haven't been to a mart since Feb so wondering what's the going rate. I take it this expected drop after April 1st never materialised. Would 330 be ball park figure?

Buford T. Justice XIX

Sold a 3 week old fr bull for 110, average looking calf.
Sold a 3 week old 1/4 jersey bull for 70, better looking calf than the friesian:(

Milked out

Sold 2 fr bulls 180 and 140, 4 wks and 6 wks respectively. One fr bull 3 months old made 280, 2 freemartin heifers 9 weeks old made 160 a piece and a 3 wk old aa bull made 265 with a 3 wk old aa heifer made 245

farmerjj

What would be a fair price to ask for a 2wk old AA female calf and a 4week old male AA was thinking €220for female and €250 for male?

whelan2

farmerjj wrote: »

What would be a fair price to ask for a 2wk old AA female calf and a 4week old male AA was thinking €220for female and €250 for male?

would say 200 max for heifer and 250 for the bull

dave81

Calf prices at cashel today: AAs were expensive as was everything else. For good square AA heifers or bulls, about 3-4 weeks old, 310 - 340. Lesser ones with little sticks for legs about 200. Mediocre ones for 250-290. 400 was freely paid for almost reared very good ones.

I bought two for 315 each, they are very square heifers, 20 days old. it will cost a couple of hunded on milk powder and crunch to rear them the way I want. It takes a lot to get these stock over a 1000 Euro at 20 months. Prices better keep going up!

I think I must be losing my marbles, I paid 160 last year for decent ones.

mahoney_j

dave81 wrote: »

Calf prices at cashel today: AAs were expensive as was everything else. For good square AA heifers or bulls, about 3-4 weeks old, 310 - 340. Lesser ones with little sticks for legs about 200. Mediocre ones for 250-290. 400 was freely paid for almost reared very good ones.

I bought two for 315 each, they are very square heifers, 20 days old. it will cost a couple of hunded on milk powder and crunch to rear them the way I want. It takes a lot to get these stock over a 1000 Euro at 20 months. Prices better keep going up!

I think I must be losing my marbles, I paid 160 last year for decent ones.

Ye beef boys and girls have very short memories,remember how bad beef prices were for most of last year well ye better prepare yerselves for a similar scenario again.prices for calves and all grades of stock are crazy atm.i already predict mass ifa protests and beef prices below cost of production and a heap of us dairy farmers been asked to picket meat plants in 1.5 to 2 years time

Count Mondego

mahoney_j wrote: »

Ye beef boys and girls have very short memories,remember how bad beef prices were for most of last year well ye better prepare yerselves for a similar scenario again.prices for calves and all grades of stock are crazy atm.i already predict mass ifa protests and beef prices below cost of production and a heap of us dairy farmers been asked to picket meat plants in 1.5 to 2 years time

Ye might have to worry about ye're own pickets at that stage. That said, I agree with you.

mahoney_j

Count Mondego wrote: »

Ye might have to worry about ye're own pickets at that stage. That said, I agree with you.

Picketing coops won't matter a ****e to us as world markets dictate our price .sure we'll get the beef men to do it for us!!!!

Reggie.

mahoney_j wrote: »

Picketing coops won't matter a ****e to us as world markets dictate our price .sure we'll get the beef men to do it for us!!!!

That's fighting talk

Count Mondego

mahoney_j wrote: »

Picketing coops won't matter a ****e to us as world markets dictate our price .sure we'll get the beef men to do it for us!!!!

How could we, sure we'll be at our full time jobs :-)

High bike

Count Mondego wrote: »

How could we, sure we'll be at our full time jobs :-)

and lucky to have em:pac:

awaywithyou

have 2 holstein friesian bull calves born in jan here... bvd sample was empty and by the time i had got around to retagging.. they had gone over 6wks.. had herd test last wk all clear.. so now want to sell them...

they are two fine strong healthy bull calves... what should i be getting for them?

CloughCasey1

awaywithyou wrote: »

have 2 holstein friesian bull calves born in jan here... bvd sample was empty and by the time i had got around to retagging.. they had gone over 6wks.. had herd test last wk all clear.. so now want to sell them...

they are two fine strong healthy bull calves... what should i be getting for them?

I'll give ya 175 apiece for them.

keep going

Fella onto me for hd bulls and heifers, thinking 250 a piece. What do ye think

whelan2

keep going wrote: »

Fella onto me for hd bulls and heifers, thinking 250 a piece. What do ye think

neighbour got 300 euro cash each for wh heifers last week 2 weeks old

davidk1394

awaywithyou wrote: »

have 2 holstein friesian bull calves born in jan here... bvd sample was empty and by the time i had got around to retagging.. they had gone over 6wks.. had herd test last wk all clear.. so now want to sell them...

they are two fine strong healthy bull calves... what should i be getting for them?

Im buying them at 170 per calf

whelan2

any recent prices for aa bulls and heifers?

whelan2

what are aa calves making in the mart?

_Brian

whelan2 wrote: »

neighbour got 300 euro cash each for wh heifers last week 2 weeks old

I'd question if at that price, there much profit in them for the lad buying

Milked out

_Brian wrote: »

I'd question if at that price, there much profit in them for the lad buying

I've had enquiries from one or two looking to source suckler replacements would but a floor under aa and he heifers possibly?

Wildsurfer

whelan2 wrote: »

what are aa calves making in the mart?

I got €250 for 3 week old AA bulls this week at mart. Got the same for heifers. I got €140 for a five day old AA heifer. Usually wouldn't sell them that young but was my last trip to mart this year and I cleared the shed.

Milked out

250 for a bb bull, 90 for two fr bulls 8 aa made 200 one made 220.

lakill Farm

last week - 10 day old AA Bull and heifer ex farm (Lad I knew so idn't argue) €200 a head

this weekend - AAX and BWH heifers 3 weeks old - €172.50 each
(Dealer) bought a few off him 2 months ago also

Count Mondego

Is it not a bit pointless buying calves that young this time of year? They'll miss out on a proper grazing this year and I find that these late calves never catch up.

J DEERE

Count Mondego wrote: »

Is it not a bit pointless buying calves that young this time of year? They'll miss out on a proper grazing this year and I find that these late calves never catch up.

For the prices just mentioned, yes

whelan2

J DEERE wrote: »

For the prices just mentioned, yes

ssssh dont say anything, have 2 left to sell

Farmer Pudsey

Count Mondego wrote: »

Is it not a bit pointless buying calves that young this time of year? They'll miss out on a proper grazing this year and I find that these late calves never catch up.

In one way yes. However they will be very light going into shed first winter (sub 200kgs) so will cost very little to winter (80c/dayish). If you have a long winter this is an advantage. They will fly next year at grass and if done well will have caught up with calves that are done average. \Even doing them average leaves you with a lightest store going into shed for second year that again will be easy to winter

Lots of lads that but these types of calves aim to sell as stores at 20 months. these cattle are very popular as summer grazers know that they can be carried right through to November when glut of underage cattle are gone. However price seems a bit strong but prices for all dairy stock are crazy this year.

As well lots of lads that do calves like to do them in bunches from February to June buying often in lots of 4 or 5 ever 3-4 weeks. This means that by late June they have 25-30 calves for there farm. Disadvantage is you really need to run them in bunches as stronger calves will out gooble up any meal and get stronger and stronger.

Tomjim

are calves generally cheaper in September/ October, or are there any calves out at that time of year

farmerjj

Tomjim wrote: »

are calves generally cheaper in September/ October, or are there any calves out at that time of year

There normally a little cheaper in april / may than sept/oct.

lakill Farm

last year I bought 2 week old calves in July . They are fine. Not a major issue as running as 2 separate groups and they will always be 4/5 months behind the first ones.

This year though other issues meant I didn't buy calves in March ,

Base price

lakill Farm wrote: »

last year I bought 2 week old calves in July . They are fine. Not a major issue as running as 2 separate groups and they will always be 4/5 months behind the first ones.

This year though other issues meant I didn't buy calves in March ,

I have no problem buying calves during the summer months once they are coming at the right price although I hate having to mix milk replacer for a handful of calves
We have 4 easy going FR & JEx cows that we use to rear some of the better quality FR and coloured bull calves that we buy so we use them to rear summer calves if we buy any.
Having a few calves (on cows) about the place can be beneficial to both us and neighbours with suckler cows that have lost a calf at birth.

marathon

im buying in 20 fr bull calves dis sat ( 2 - 4 wks) any ideas on the best system for them as it middle summer?

bogman_bass

You'll do well to buy them this tme of year. Personally I'd want to be getting a May calf for free and even then...

farmerjj

marathon wrote: »

im buying in 20 fr bull calves dis sat ( 2 - 4 wks) any ideas on the best system for them as it middle summer?

Best place for them would be on after grass(silage fields) it would be nice and clean for young calves less chance of them catching anything

CloughCasey1

bogman_bass wrote: »

You'll do well to buy them this tme of year. Personally I'd want to be getting a May calf for free and even then...

Why not a may calf?

4512

Im a 15 year old who raised 2 whitehead calves this year( bought for 275 a piece in october) hope to sell them as stores in about november 15

Would it be worth while paying for good lim/ bb calves, stick with angus /whitehead or just go for a freisan type in future??

bogman_bass

Neither a spring calf nor an autumn calf but the worst of both worlds. Not strong enough to utilise grass and not eating enough when its growing hard so you end up with a calf with a pot belly and a feild full of stemmy grass.

The calf is only getting going and you're housing him.

Money too tight in that game to not be making the most from grass

just do it

Also possibly looking a third winter in the shed to get them fit for slaughter?

Reggie.

4512 wrote: »

Im a 15 year old who raised 2 whitehead calves this year( bought for 275 a piece in october) hope to sell them as stores in about november 15

Would it be worth while paying for good lim/ bb calves, stick with angus /whitehead or just go for a freisan type in future??

My advice is to stick with the AA/WH. Hardy breed for ya to learn your trade before you venture into more expensive breeds

Farmer Pudsey

4512 wrote: »

Im a 15 year old who raised 2 whitehead calves this year( bought for 275 a piece in october) hope to sell them as stores in about november 15

Would it be worth while paying for good lim/ bb calves, stick with angus /whitehead or just go for a freisan type in future??

If you are buying in the autumn I stick with the HE if possible. AA can be too butty and crossed with HO which a lot of cows calving in the autumn are can be very fine boned. I would keep away from BB but Good LMX calves can be cheaper than AA to buy as bucket fed.

Autumn Fresian can be great value but need to be kept longer than 12 months ideally until at least 24 months. At above 550kgs LW there tends to be a good trade late in the year. However if undr this weight you can struggle to get a good price for the as farmers that buy such animals tend to be mean ba5tards:D

CloughCasey1

Now now Pudsey nobody on here said you were mane!!!

Cavanjack

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

If you are buying in the autumn I stick with the HE if possible. AA can be too butty and crossed with HO which a lot of cows calving in the autumn are can be very fine boned. I would keep away from BB but Good LMX calves can be cheaper than AA to buy as bucket fed.

Autumn Fresian can be great value but need to be kept longer than 12 months ideally until at least 24 months. At above 550kgs LW there tends to be a good trade late in the year. However if undr this weight you can struggle to get a good price for the as farmers that buy such animals tend to be mean ba5tards:D

Mean or cute?

CloughCasey1

I would say cute. Mean is the lad that buys the chx for show and won't feed them on as "he has too much money spent on them already". Cute sees value in an animal and feeds on to make profit.

IH784man

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Cute sees value in an animal and feeds on to make profit.

That's true,uncle rears around 50 whitehead calves a year and does well on them,sure wouldn't anyone rather have a field full of 50 Charolais calves but if the whiteheads make the most money because there cheaper to buy.

Farmer Pudsey

IH784man wrote: »

That's true,uncle rears around 50 whitehead calves a year and does well on them,sure wouldn't anyone rather have a field full of 50 Charolais calves but if the whiteheads make the most money because there cheaper to buy.

It about capital(money )tied up in stock as well. In general for two CHX calves you could buy three HEX with maybe a 50 spot left over. On a good day (or a bad day for the dairy farmer) you could buy 10-12 fresians or maybe 8 Fresians and 8 JeXFr crosses.

But you would have to carry the JeXFr to finish. But it can be a good way to get into stock numbers

bogman_bass

IH784man wrote: »

sure wouldn't anyone rather have a field full of 50 Charolais calves but if the whiteheads make the most money because there cheaper to buy.

I dont get that. If i was breeding them then yes I'd want to have the best but a field of fancy bought in cattle just means you are good at waving the cheque book about

marathon

so am i doing right or wrong buying in batch of fr bulls they comin tomorow

Farmer Pudsey

marathon wrote: »

so am i doing right or wrong buying in batch of fr bulls they comin tomorow

Like anything it depend on what you pay for them and what you intend doing with them.